Float



Aug. 6, 1935. A. FERR, Y 2,010,371

FLOAT Filed Aug. l5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z f6 P l l. /5 /6 45 Z Z5' ZZ /4 i 44? w /Tig 45 f 255? v ATTORNEY.

Aug. 6, 1935. A PERRl 2,010,371

FLOAT Filed Aug. l5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOmvEY.V

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to floats,l and more particularly to iloats for bathers at pleasure resorts. An important characteristic of my invention is its knockdown or collapsible nature l whereby it may be readily stored or transported in passenger vehicles or other conveyances.

My invention may be used not only for amusement purposes but it also has marked utilitarian advantages. By its use bathers who cannot ordi narily safely go into deep water vmay safely do so with my apparatus. This permits them to avoid the necessity of bathing, for instance, on muddy shores. It can also be used to advantage by swimmers who desireto swim in midstream with a safe resting place at hand and since it is provided with propelling means, it can also advantageously be used by its occupant for following swimmers. It is capable of keeping afloat a number of persons who may take hold of its sides for support. It is also particularly useful to campers who may dress only in their bathing suits and who wish to go some distance on the water for supplies, since it readily affords support above the water forsuch supplies.

Since it may be provided with an` awning, it is capable of protecting the user against the heat of the sun at all times 'while permitting him to be for the most part submerged. It may also advantageously be used as a floating bath enabling one to wash in the selected water away from mud-dy banks. i

By providing children with safety belts attached to its sides itis possible for them to play in the water regardless of its depth with perfect safety.

Other novel features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawingashowing for purposes of exemplication but without limiting my invention or claims thereto, certain particular embodiments of my invention Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

l Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section through one of the sides taken on the line III- III of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail Vvertical section of the swiveled oar lock on the line IV--IV of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view `of my awning showing the manner of its attachment to the sides, and v i Fig. 6 is a viewshowing` my vapparatus collapsed for storage or transportation.

Referring tothe drawings, my device is shown in the new sketch Fig. 3.

as comprising a rectangular bottom frame I with its sides and ends permanently connected at the corners by suitable means. Each side comprises a top horizontal member 2 permanently attached to vertical members 3 and 4 at its opposite 5 ends respectively, and the lower ends of the vertical members are hinged as shown at 5, to the corresponding side frame member of the bottom l, whereby each side may be folded downwardly upon the bottom when the float is collapsed. If desired, the lower ends of the vertical members 3 and 4 may be permanently connected by a frame member. The opposite sides 2 may be conveniently held fixed in their raised positions by members or bars 6 and 'I interposed between 15 their opposite ends, as shown in Fig. l, the bar 6 being conveniently hinged at 8 to one end of the top side bar 2 and being fastened at its opposite end to the opposite side bar 2 by means of a wing nut and bolt 9 passing through an angle iro-n I0 attached to said side. The end piece 1 is similarly attached at the forward ends of the top side bars 2 but is preferably hinged to the side opposite to that to which the bar 6 is hinged to facilitate folding. These members are adapted to swing inwardly against their respective sides when the device is collapsed.

Float members II are provided on the outer surface of the sides 2 to keep the device at the desired depth in the water. These members may conveniently be collapsible to facilitate cornpactness when the device is folded. As shown in Fig. 3, the fioat member comprises an outer casing of fabric, conveniently formed of a main tubular portion I2, a loop I3 containing a reinforcing strip I4 of wood or metal or other suit- `able material, the loop being closed by a seam l5,

the loop assemblage being connected to the upper bar 2 by a bolt I5 passing through them. The tubular portion is preferably attached at its bottom, also, to the correspondingside frame member of the bottom as Vshown at Il. `The casing is provided with an inner tube I8 which may be inflated and deated through the valve I9.

The seat 2B, conveniently made of a frame 2I and slats 22, rests at its opposite side on the opposite side frame members, respectively, ofthe bottom and this seat may conveniently be stationed centrally to balance the float as shown The seat may be conveniently attached by means of four Z plates 23, with one side resting upon a bottom side member and attached thereto by bolts 24. The other end of the Z members passing under the seat frame 2|, and being secured by the bolts 25, it 55 is obvious that the seat is centered stationary to the bottom frame.

The apparatus may be propelled by means of oars 25, conveniently swiveled at the top of the sides, as shown in Fig. 4, by means oi' a U-shaped metal support 27, to which the oar is pivotably attached by a. bolt 23, the support 2 being swiveled to the side by a bolt 29 passing through the top side frame member, the frame member being preferably protected by a metal angle plate 39 and a washer or ball-bearing Si, or the like, being employed to separate the members 2l and 3d. When the float is to be iolded, the oars may be turned in alignment with the sides, or may be entirely removed.

I further provide a collapsible foot rest 32. extending through the forward end of the bottom, which may conveniently be made oi a flexible fabric sheet such as canvas, or the like, the upper end of which may be secured as shown in Fig. 2, by passing the same about the forward. slat of the seat and securing it between the slat and the side front frame member in any suitable manner. IThe forward end of the fabric sheet is provided with a foot-board 34 permanently attached thereto, and the foot-board is held substantially at right angles to the sheet by means of a rope 35 knotted at one end passing downwardly through a hole in tl e foot-board upwardly through a second hole therein, and thence through an eyelet 36 at the bottom of a side end member, thence upwardly through the eyelet 3i at the top of the side end member, thence across the iioat and rdownwardly through similar eyelets at the opposite side, and thence to the corresponding end of the foot-board to which it is secured in a manner similar to its other end. rEhe foot-board may be readily adjusted to diiierent lengths by taking up the rope at its ends, making new knots, or by knotting the portion of the rope crossing from one side to the other, or by turning the foot-board to fold the fabric and rope.

may conveniently provide a seat back cornprising a suitable fabric lit, such as canvas, duck,

lor the like, attached at its lower end to the rear end slat ofthe seat in any appropriate manner Vsuch as that described for securing the foot rest fabric to the front slat of the seat. Attached to the upper end oi the seat back fabric by any suitable means is a cross-bar di, having eyelets f2.2 at its ends, which may be conveniently formed in the ends of a steel bar or plate i3 rigidly attached to the bar di, although it is obvious that any other suitable construction may be employed. The eyelets d2 are located a short distance from the top side members 2 and are connected thereto by means of. a spring d having one of its ends passing through said eyelet and its. other end through the eyelet of a plate 5.15 permanently secured to said top side member 2i in any appropriate manner.v The plate is preferably provided with a plurality of eyelets to permit adjustment of the back member.

When it is desired to fold the apparatus for storage, the springs may be removed from the plates d5 and. the seat back folded on the bottom.

I further provide eyelets d6 which may conveniently be'formed on the hinged plate 5 into which the free ends of the springs may be inserted causing the back to assiune a horizontal position in the plane of the bottom should it be desired to operate without a back, or should two bathers, sitting back to back, desire to occupy the float. The back may be left in this position when it is desired to fold the float.

An awning may be conveniently provided for my float by attaching two upright rods 5i?, bent at their upper ends into the configuration desired for the awning, and attached at their lower ends by means of bolts 5i passing through holes in the flattened portion ii of the rods. The awnings 53 may be .conveniently attached to these rods to freely slide thereon by means of rings 54 attached to the sides of the awnings and passing about said rods. The Lipper end of the awning is preferably provided with a rod 55 having projecting ends adapted to engage in the hooked portions 56 of the rods. It is thus seen that the awning may be raised or lowered as the user desires, and when it is desired to knock down the assembly, it is only necessary to remove the bolts 5 i, which release the awning from the iioat. The awning may then be compactly packed with the iloat when collapsed.

While I have shown my apparatus designed for the use of one occupant, it is obvious that it may be extended in tandem to provide for two or more occupants.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the forms disclosed, within the spirit 2 of my invention, and that many features may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

I claim:

1. A knoclidown bathing apparatus including, in combination, a frame having a bottom; sides hinged to said bottom and foldable thereon; deilatable pneumatic float members attached to the top edges of said sides; oars swiveled to said sides; and members hinged to said sides and foldable thereon; means for detachably connecting the free corners of said sides and end members when raised; a back member detachably connected to said sides; a cover frame comprising side bars detachably secured to said sides, a cover slidabiy attached to said side bars and provided with means for holding it stretched on said frame, and a exible leg extension carrying a foot support extending through the forward end of said bottom.

2. A knockdown bathing apparatus including, in combination, a frame having a bottom; sides hinged to said bottom and foldable thereon; deiiatable pneumatic noat members attached to the top edges of said sides; oars swiveled to said sides; end members hinged to said sides and foldable thereon; means for detachably connecting the free corners of said sides and end members when raised; a haci; member detaohably connected to said sides; and a flexible leg exten- `sion carrying a foot support extending through the forward end of said bottom- 3. A knockdown bathing apparatus including, in combination, a frame having a bottom, sides hinged to said bottom and ioldable thereon; defiatable pneumatic neat members attached to the ltop edges of said sides; end members hinged to said sides and foldable thereon; means for detachably connecting the free corners of said sides and end members when raised; and a flexible leg 'f extension carrying a foot support extending through the forward end of said bottom.

4. A knockdown bathing apparatus including, in combination, a frame having a bottom; sides hinged to said bottom and foldabie thereon; oars swiveled to said sides; means for detachably holding said sides in elevated position, and a ilegible leg extension carrying a foot support extending through the forward end of said bottom.

ANTomo FERRI. 

